Honest Reflections

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 13:1-15:23 ESV, Luke 8:40-9:6 ESV, Psalm 71:1-24 ESV, Proverbs 12:5-7 ESV

Daily Verse: “And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” (Luke 8:52 ESV)

KATHEUDO (2518): “To lie down, to rest, i.e., to fall asleep.  Means to go to sleep and is chiefly used of natural sleep, figuratively of death.”[I]

Jesus wakens.

Jairus, a synagogue ruler, begs Jesus to come home with him and save his twelve-year-old daughter, who lay dying.  Arriving at the house, Jesus tells the people to stop weeping.

“But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”  And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.” (Luke 8:54-55 ESV).

Envisioning the astonishment on everyone’s face as the precious child rose and began to eat, I can only imagine their surprise.  And then Jesus tells them not to tell anyone, even more, shocking to me.  How could you not talk about witnessing someone coming back to life? 

Jesus brings life.

Placing faith in Jesus means receiving the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us, helping us along the journey.  Releasing our old ways embracing new life in Christ, we find true freedom.  Every day we have an opportunity to become more like Jesus.  He awakens us to eternity.  We will experience physical death on earth, but eternal life with God awaits.

When I think of loved ones who now reside in heaven, I picture them alive and whole, with no physical ailments or troubles, like Jarius’s daughter, awakened to new life. Physical death gives way to spiritual life.

“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21 ESV)

Death has no power with Jesus, overcoming it on the cross.  None of us need to fear what the future holds when we place our faith in Jesus. 

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 124) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 11:1-12:32 ESV, Luke 8:22-39 ESV, Psalm 70:1-5 ESV, Proverbs 12:4 ESV

Daily Verse: “and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a wind storm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.” (Luke 8:23 ESV)

LAILAPS (2978): “a whirlwind (squall).  Refers to a formidable squall, a storm raging back and forth unstably, breaking forth from dark clouds and accompanied by torrential rains and is translated “storm” in Mk 4:37, Luke 8:23.” [I]

Unexpected squall.

Sailing to Gerasene, the disciples encounter a raging windstorm that petrifies them.  Jesus, napping in the back of the boat, doesn’t even notice.  Fearful for their lives, the disciples wake Jesus, asking Him to save them.

“He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Luke 8:25 ESV)

Storms come out of nowhere, knocking us off our feet.  When COVID began in March of 2020, it destroyed one of my businesses.  On Friday, I finished the week with a thriving dog walking business and complete clientele list; by Monday, I didn’t.  Quarantine meant no one needed me to walk their dogs anymore.  Half my income disappeared in two days.

Trust Jesus.

When the winds of life start whipping around you, turn to Jesus.  The disciples knew who could help them in their time of distress; the same Savior saves us as well.

Waking Jesus up in the middle of the storm will bring you peace.  When life rolls along smoothly, with nothing but blue skies in the forecast, we forget about Jesus.  But the minute a catastrophic event happens, we remember God.  Thankfully, we serve a God of grace and mercy whose open arms welcome us back into His embrace.

Whatever storm rages around you today, seek Jesus.  Pour out your fear and trepidation to God, ask Him to calm the storm.  Christ’s response remains the same, He either soothes the storm or relaxes you.  Jesus brings peace to us, one way or the other.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 148) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22 ESV, Luke 8:4-21 ESV, Psalm 69:19-36 ESV, Proverbs 12:2-3 ESV

Daily Verse: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.” (Luke 8:5 ESV)

SPEIRO (4687): “to scatter, i.e., sow.  To sow seed is used literally, especially in the Synoptic Gospels; elsewhere, the sower. Metaphorically in proverbial sayings, in the interpretation of parables, of sowing spiritual things in preaching and teaching.”[i]

Scatter seeds.

If we don’t plant seeds, nothing will grow.  Insanity means doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results.  If your planting method doesn’t produce a harvest, you may want to reconsider how you plant.

My husband and I have a small backyard.  Because a crepe myrtle tree towers over the little bit of grass we have, it doesn’t grow well.  Last year, I worked diligently scattering seeds to get the empty patches to take root.  After watching my failed attempts for months, my husband decided to try a different kind of seed.  Within days, tiny green blades poked their points out of the earth.   

Type matters.

When planting seeds, makes sure to plant the right kind.  You have control over the types of kernels you leave behind.  Mean, angry, hateful seeds will not grow a bountiful harvest, but seeds planted in love multiply tenfold.

Think about the people who helped you develop a relationship with Christ.  What drew you to them?  When I think of my mom, I think of her unconditional love, no matter the circumstances.  When I walked through her door, I always knew love waited for me on the other side.  Diligently, she pursued Jesus, attending church regularly, volunteering in different ministries, and scattering seeds of love wherever she went.

When I planted the wrong type of grass -seed, it didn’t grow.  But once I found the correct blend, my yard took off.  If you want people to develop a relationship with Jesus, then plant seeds of love.  Imitate the Savior, love others as He did, you will grow a harvest more enormous than you can imagine.

Scatter seeds of love everywhere you go; the Lord will multiply the harvest when you do.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 231) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 7:1-8:20 ESV, Luke 7:36-8:3 ESV, Psalm 69:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 12:1 ESV

Daily Verse: “Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.” (Luke 7:44 ESV)

EKMASSO (1591): “To wipe dry. Of “wiping tears from Christ’s feet.”[I]

Wipe dry.

Remember, Christ wore sandals on dirt roads when envisioning the sinful woman wiping Jesus’ feet dry with her hair. Pedicured nails didn’t exist, nor did all the handy tools we have today for keeping our toenails in check.  Nothing would stop the forgiven woman from worshipping the One who forgave her, not even mud-stained feet.

Comprehending Jesus’ love for you will humble you like nothing else.  Christ wiped our slates clean with His actions on the cross.  What cost us nothing cost Jesus everything.  And no matter how hard I strive for a sinless life, I still sin.  Jesus understands our human nature because He became flesh.  We can relate to Jesus’ humanity, which leads us to God’s sovereignty. 

Worship well.

Pouring expensive ointment from an alabaster jar, then cleansing with tears and wiping her Savior’s feet with hair, exemplifies worshiping well.  With her entire being, the woman worships Jesus.  Because of Christ, she has new life, one she never dreamed possible.  Freedom like she never knew now belonged to her because of Jesus.

Like the sinful woman, Jesus forgives us from our past and frees us for a new life in Him.  Experiencing life to the fullest happens because of Jesus.  You can’t save yourself, but Jesus can.  In Him, life begins anew, and when it does, you will worship like today’s heroine.

Give Jesus your past; let Him lead you into the future.  Forgiven and free, live life to the fullest today.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 81) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 5:1-6:25 ESV, Luke 7:11-35 ESV, Psalm 68:19-35 ESV, Proverbs 11:29-31 ESV

Daily Verse: “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” (Luke 7:13 ESV)

KLAIO (2799): “Wail aloud (whereas 1145 is rather to cry silently) Any loud expression of grief, especially in mourning for the dead.”[I]

Jesus cares.

Having just lost her son, the devastated widow walking behind his body on its way to burial meets Jesus. Telling her not to weep, Christ showed compassion, raising the widow’s only child from the dead in front of the crowd. Fear seized the people witnessing the supernatural power of Jesus. Tongues wagged and news spread quickly of the event.

In a recent sermon, the pastor addressed why God sometimes protects and not others.  Why did Jesus choose to raise the widow’s son from the dead and not someone else’s?  As the pastor said, “God’s God, we’re not.  Some questions don’t have an answer.”

Trust overrides answers.

Walking with Jesus requires trust, not answers.  When Christ engages in conversations, time after time, He responds to the question with a question.  Jesus does possess the answers to our questions, but we don’t need them to follow Him.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, “declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

God never intended for us to have all the answers on this side of heaven.  One day, when we cross into the eternal world beyond, we’ll find out the mysteries of this world; until then, we trust.

When God says, He will never leave us or forsake us, no matter the circumstances, we believe Him.  Receiving the gift of grace and mercy Christ offers costs us nothing compared to the price God paid.  Remembering God’s unconditional love for us, sacrificing His Son, creating a way for us to let go of this world and grasp God’s, helps us wait well.

Amid our wailing, we can cling to Jesus when pain surrounds our soul.  Answers won’t comfort us, but God will. 

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 139) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-49 ESV, Luke 6:39-7:10 ESV, Psalm 68:1-18 ESV, Proverbs 11:28 ESV

Daily Verse: “He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39 ESV)

TUPHLOS (5185): “Used both physically and metaphorically, chiefly in the Gospels. The word is frequently used as a noun, signifying, “a blind man.”[i]

Spiritual blindness.

“You know there’s something there, but there’s not,” an atheist friend said to me one night over dinner.  He understands something more exists outside of the physical realm, but he rejects it with no explanation other than consciously choosing not to believe.  The spiritual world exists, but the choice to believe belongs to you.

“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.”(Proverbs 20:12 ESV)

Often in life, we can see people heading in the wrong direction, blind to the danger ahead.  Understanding talking them out of their desired course will do no good; I have a go-to prayer.

Eyes to see, ears to hear.

Probably my most frequently prayed prayer, “Lord, give them eyes to see and ears to hear Jesus.” Only with divine intervention can people begin to see the spiritual side to life.  Jesus taught in parables, wanting us to use our God-given ability to tune in to His words.  God opens our eyes to the wonders of not only this world but the spiritual one as well.

Ultimately, our journeys through life on earth differ from one to another, none of us on the same course.  Looking at someone else’s life, we may think we know what’s best for them, but we don’t.  Only God knows the best roads for us to take.  Asking Him for eyes to see and ears to hear not only help us find our way but also assists others on their paths.  Without God’s guidance, we will get lost.

When God opens people’s eyes and ears, they see Jesus.   Meeting Jesus will introduce them to an eternal world they couldn’t see before.  Receiving the grace and mercy Christ offers comes by faith in the unseen.  Only when God cures our spiritual blindness can we accept the gift He offers.

Gaze at Jesus today with open eyes.  Listen with the Holy Spirit to what He has to say.  Live life to the fullest with God, today and always.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 254) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 2:1-3:29 ESV, Luke 6:12-38 ESV, Psalm 67:1-7 ESV, Proverbs 11:27 ESV

Daily Verse: “And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles:” (Luke 6:13 ESV)

APOSTOLOS (652): “An ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ.  ‘One sent forth’  The word is used of the Lord Jesus to describe His relation to God.  The twelve disciples chosen by the Lord for special training were so called.  Paul though he had seen the Lord Jesus, had not ‘companied with’ the Twelve ‘all the time’ of His earthly ministry, and hence was not eligible for a place among them, according to Peter’s description of the necessary qualifications.”[i]

God’s ambassador.

When Jesus chose the twelve disciples, He named them apostles, ambassadors of the Gospel.  Each of the men walked with Christ during His earthly ministry.  From their journey, the Gospel story began to spread.  Commissioned by Christ to spread the good news, thousands of years later, the story continues.

Peter defines an apostle as walking with Christ physically while on earth; therefore, Paul doesn’t qualify.  Paul, however, wrote most of the New Testament after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus.  Once you encounter Jesus, you can’t help but join the mission.

Commissioned by Christ.

None of us meet Peter’s standards, but we all share the same mission. 

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19 ESV)

Christ gave us the Great Commission; go and make disciples.  Each of us God placed perfectly to do His work.  God created you with purpose, possessing unique talents and gifts.  When we use our blessings to bless others and draw them into a relationship with God, we fulfill Christ’s commission for our lives.

Introduce people to Jesus wherever you go.  Love like Jesus loved in the pages of scriptures, entirely and unconditionally.  As Jesus walked through His days on earth, the masses followed Him.  Jesus turned the world upside down, one act of love at a time.  We can do the same when we follow Jesus.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 39) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 36:1-Deuteronomy 1:46 ESV, Luke 5:29-6:11 ESV, Psalm 66:1-20 ESV, Proverbs 11:24-26 ESV

Daily Verse: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.” (Luke 5:37 ESV)

OINOS (3631): “The general word for wine.  The mention of the bursting of the wineskins implies fermentation.  In Mt. 27:34 it is translated “vinegar” the result of complete fermentation.”[I]

Wine ferments.

Fine wine takes time to develop, anywhere from 2-15 years, depending on the type of vino.  Another subtle reminder about the journey of life we all make, each of us with different fermentation speeds.

Journeying with Christ, we become new creatures.  Our lives ferment and become different as we put God’s word into practice in our life.  Allowing Jesus to transform our lives means we’re different today than yesterday, each passing hour turning us into a unique wine.

Process becomes outcome.

Just as sugar becomes ethyl alcohol, we become fine wine as well.  Our lives’ unique blend of flavors develops over time from life experiences.  Like our old lifestyle, old wineskins can’t hold the fresh creation.  We can’t do the things we used to do and still produce fine wine.

In my twenties, I got stomped.  Life slapped me in the face as I defiantly followed my own will.  Too much alcohol, spending, and bad relationships left me alone and miserable.  Only then did I turn my eyes heavenward, seeking Jesus once more.

Turning back to Jesus meant I stopped doing all those things. The old wineskin could no longer hold the new wine.   Following Jesus led me to live a life of moderation in all things, which needed a new container for my transformed life.  An imperfect person, the fermentation process continues each day I live.

Allow Jesus to transform your life today, let His process help you become a fine wine.  Each day, become a little sweeter as you follow Christ closer.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 177) Thomas Nelson

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 33:40-35:34 ESV, Luke 5:12-28 ESV, Psalm 65:1-13 ESV, Proverbs 11:23 ESV

Daily Verse: “While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” (Luke 5:12 ESV)

LEPRA (3014):  “Scaliness.  Lepros, an adjective, is characterized by an eruption of rough, scaly patches.  Mt. 10:8 and Luke 4:27 indicate that the disease was common in the nation.  Only twelve cases are recorded in the NT, but these are specially selected.”[I]

Jesus cleanses.

Leprosy isolated the person both physically and emotionally.  If scaly, rough patches appeared on your flesh, instant banning occurred.  You moved to the leper colony ASAP; healthy people didn’t want to catch the nasty disease.  Now, doctors know about 95% of people have immunity to the disease, but in Jesus’ time, they didn’t know the statistics.[i]

Unfortunately, we treat people like lepers today.  Instead of loving, we judge, and if whoever doesn’t live up to our expectations, they get banned.  I’ve experienced sorrowful treatment from people who proclaimed to love Christ, and I’ve treated people sorrowfully.  As humans, we hurt people, most of the time unintentionally.  Jesus didn’t run from the leper; He cleansed him.

Experience Jesus.

Spending my days studying God’s word makes me more sensitive to my sinful ways.  When I think of how my critical spirit impacted relationships in the past, I cringe.  Repairing the damage I caused requires humility and the words, “I’m sorry,” Looking in the mirror at the pain I’ve caused others truly humbles me and makes me thankful Jesus loves a sinner like me.

“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” (Luke 7:47 ESV)

Acknowledging our sin before Jesus cleanses us of it.  God’s Son came to set us free from the bondage of sin and its penalty, death.  Submitting control of your life to Jesus means receiving His grace and mercy, separating us from our sin “as far as the east is from the west” (Psalm 103:12 ESV).

Experiencing unconditional love and forgiveness from Jesus makes loving Him in return easy.  And from the affection you receive, you will feel compelled to share it with others, loving instead of judging.

Jesus loved everyone, even the lepers.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 150) Thomas Nelson

[i] https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/a-z/leprosy-risk#:~:text=Leprosy%2C%20also%20called%20Hansen’s%20disease,that%20cause%20this%20disease1

2 minute read.

Daily Reading: Numbers 32:1-33:39 ESV, Luke 4:31-5:11 ESV, Psalm 64:1-10 ESV, Proverbs 11:22 ESV

Daily Verse: “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice” (Luke 4:33 ESV)

PNEUMA (4151): “A current of air, i.e., breath (blast) or a breeze.  I.e., (human) the rational soul, or (superhuman) an angel, demon, or (divine) God, Christ’s spirit, the Holy Spirit.  Syn: This word is rarely used of wind, but when so used it is known for its strength, vigor and force.”[I]

Spirits exist.

Understanding the spiritual side to life means accepting the unknown.  The battle between light and dark takes place outside our field of vision, making it hard to comprehend.  In the pages of scripture, Jesus gives us a glimpse of the fight.  The man in today’s verse had an unclean spirit within him who confronted Jesus.

“But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.” (Luke 4:35 ESV)

Jesus prevails.

Jesus didn’t let the unclean spirit bother Him; instead, He shut the demon up.  Accepting Jesus into our lives means the Holy Spirit becomes our protector, living within us, giving us its power.  Nothing can take His place.  Grounding our identity in Christ means accessing His power.

So far in my journey, I have never encountered a demon-possessed man like the one in today’s verse.  But I have dealt with wayward thoughts, lies I’ve believed which stop me from living life to the fullest in Christ.  Jesus has an answer:

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” (2 Cor. 10:5 ESV)

Tap into God’s Spirit.  Capture thoughts, silence demons and expose lies with Jesus’s power.  Live life to the fullest with Christ.

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[i] Strong, J., & Strong, J. (2010). The New Strong’s expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Greek Dictionary of the New Testament (p. 205) Thomas Nelson